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The Effect of Accounting Infor
The Effect of Accounting Infor
The Effect of Accounting Infor
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International Journal of Advanced Computer Research (ISSN (print): 2249-7277 ISSN (online): 2277-7970)
Volume-3 Number-3 Issue-12 September-2013
value. Using these automated systems helps to A review of the literature on AIS and the advantage
overcome weaknesses in data processing. The study of AIS were discussed in the previous study, in order
involves upgrading human skills and developing to establish the theoretical frame work of the research
accounting software to speed up accounting work in model and to derive the hypotheses that can explain
the construction firms. AIS is an important accountant behavior towards the role of AIS in an
mechanism of an organization that is vital for organization’s setting. This study have examines
effective management decision making in controlling some theories in the domain of the information
organization (Zymrmm, 1995). Generally, benefits of systems environment, and explored social factors and
AIS has impacted decision making process, purchase, organizational behavior and the technology
software applications, performance evolution, acceptance model (TAM) variables.
internal control, external control and this have
facilitate companies transaction in South Africa In the past, technology acceptance model (TAM)
organization. represents an important theoretical contribution
towards the understanding of AIS (Davis, 1989). The
2. The role of Accounting focus on the theory-based model of TAM by (Davis,
Information System 1989) explains computer usage behavior towards the
role of accounting information systems. The goals of
The role of accounting information systems was TAM also provided an explanation of the
summaries according (Sealehi, 2011) is a system that determinants of computer acceptance that are
operate functions of data gathering, processing, generally capable of explaining user behavior across
categorizing, and reporting financial events with the a broad range of end-user computer technology and
aims of providing relevant information for the user populations. (Davis, 1993) predicting human
purpose of storing information keeping inventories behavior and suggests how users come to accept and
records and decision making, and also provides use a technology and proposes that when a person is
financial report on a daily and weekly basis. This adopting a new technology, a number of factors such
study have shown that successful implementation of as the perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use,
accounting information systems has benefits, attitude towards use and behavior intention can
improvement in work qualities, improved flow of influence their decision about how and when he or
product, improved flexibility, multifunctional ability, she will use it. Also (Bergeron, 1995) implies TAM
motivation of using software application, problem framework, as a theory from social psychology,
solving capability of employees, increased explicitly shows the social, cultural, individual and
productivity and performance in terms of production organizational factors that influence the behavior.
cost, and finally increased emphasis on suppliers Davis developed TAM framework, while under
integration. All these mentions make accounting contract to IBM Canada Limited to evaluate the
information systems so unique and advantageous in market potential for a variety of the then-emerging
use. PC-based applications in the area of multimedia,
image processing, and pen-based computer in order
to guide investment in a new development.
3. Objectives of the study
Dalci (2009) study of social influence was motivated
To achieve this aim, the following use research by his interest in understanding the change brought
objectives: about in individual attitude by external input, in such
To investigate of the social factors as information communicated to easy them.
influencing the use of AIS. Specifically, his research attempted to understand
To investigate of the organizational factors whether the change in attitude resulting from external
influencing the use of AIS. stimuli was a temporary superficial change or a more
To investigate TAM variable influencing the lasting change that became integrated in the person’s
role of AIS value systems. He suggested that change in attitude
To determine the role of AIS is used by and action is produced by social influence. His study
accounting firm to achieve their intended employs a theory-based model to investigate and
purpose examine the social, individual, organizational and
critical success factors that might explain
4. Theoretical framework and accountants’ behavior and role of AIS (Bagozzi
Background 1992). These theories are in the AIS domain because
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International Journal of Advanced Computer Research (ISSN (print): 2249-7277 ISSN (online): 2277-7970)
Volume-3 Number-3 Issue-12 September-2013
they enable researchers to gain a useful insight into 2003). TAM had received, adapted and extended by
the reactions of people towards computer technology numerous researchers (Johnson et al 2003). These
and factors affecting their reactions (Davis et al adaptations have variously explored TAM’s
1989). A brief discussion of each of the TAM constructs and variables (Davis, 1993), issue of social
variables was presented for this study. influence, the temporal dimension of IT adoption
Perceived Usefulness: Davis et al (1989) define PU behavior (Johnson, 2003), the degree of voluntary
as the user probability that using a specific attitudes in IT adoption and usage (Davis, 1989),
application system will increase his or her job usage self-measurement bias and the case of object-
performance within an organizational context. oriented systems development (Johnson 2003).
Perceived Ease of Use: Davis defines PEOU as the
degree to which an individual believes that using a Furthermore, the theoretical importance of TAM as a
particular system would be free of physical and determinant of user behavior is revealed by various
mental effort (Davis 1993). While PEOU relates to kinds of research studies including the adoption of
the assessment of the intrinsic characteristic of IT innovations, the cost-benefit paradigm, expectancy
such as ease of use, ease of learning, flexibility and theory and self-efficacy theory (Davis 1989). An
clarity of IT interface, PU on the other hand is a overview of scholar research studies (Davis 1989;
response to user assessment of the extrinsic, ie.task- Johnson 2003) on IS acceptance and usage suggests
oriented outcome: how IT helps the user achieve that TAM has emerged as one of the most influential
task-related objectives, such as task efficiency and models in this stream of research, including e-
effectiveness. These two beliefs can create a commerce and the adoption of internet technology
favorable disposition or intention towards using the (Johnson, 2003). TAM with its original emphasis on
AIS. system design characteristics represented an essential
Behaviour Intention: according to the TRA, an theoretical contribution in understanding IS usage
individual behavior intention (BI) is a function of two and acceptance behavior. For instance, Davis (1989)
basic determinants: one is a personal factor in nature originally examined an email system and file-editor
and the other reflects the social influences. The used at the time at IBM Canada and found the PEOU
former refers to an individual’s positive or negative and PU to be significantly correlated with self-
evaluation of performing the behavior. This is termed reported use of the system.
as attitude towards the behavior. The latter reflects an
individual’s perception of the social pressure put on Moreover, evidence of the research community’s
him or her to perform or not to perform the behavior growing acceptance of TAM is more or less reflected
in question. These are termed subjective norms. In in the fact that the Institute for Scientific
other words, BI is determined by an individual Information’s social science citation index, as
perception of personal factors such as attitude referenced in Money and Turner (2004), recently
towards the behavior and subjective norms, which are listed 335 journal citations since 1999 of the initial
the social pressure on the behavior in question (Azjen research paper published by Davis et al (1989). More
and Fishbein 1991). than a decade after its original publication, TAM
Attitudes towards use: TAM is based on the TRA continues to play a significant role in social science
attitude paradigm which specifies how the behavior- research studies (Johnson 2003).
relevant component of attitudes can be measured. It
distinguishes between belief and attitudes and Nevertheless, TAM has been replicated and tested
specifically how external stimuli such as objective extensively to provide empirical evidence on the
features of the attitudes to the object are casually relationship that exists between PU and PEOU (Davis
linked to belief, attitudes and behavior (Davis 1989). et al 1989). The result of the study has confirmed the
In TAM, an attitude towards usage is referred to as validity and reliability of the Davis instrument, and
the evaluative effect of positive or negative feeling of supports its use with different populations of users
individual in performing a particular behavior and different software choices.
(Fishbein, 2000).
TAM uses multiple-item scales to operationalize
5. The important of TAM in the ATU, PU and PEOU in order to measure these
research study constructs more reliably than would be possible with
a single-item scale (Davis 1989). The Cronbach
Since its original development, TAM has been the Alpha reliability of TAM scales has been found to
focus of considerable academic attention (Venkatesh, exceed 0.9 across numerous fields (Davis 1993). In
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International Journal of Advanced Computer Research (ISSN (print): 2249-7277 ISSN (online): 2277-7970)
Volume-3 Number-3 Issue-12 September-2013
addition, TAM item scales exhibit a high degree of habit and other facilitating conditions suggested
discriminate, convergent and nomological validity above to have an important influence on behaviour.
(Venkatech 2003). The importance of these Davis (1993) encourages future research to consider
psychometric properties and the high proportion of the role of additional [external variables] within
variance in TAM for studying IS adoption is shown TAM. In other words, his study highlighted the
by (Davis 1993 and Venkatech 2003). growing importance of developing knowledge from
TAM. This study employs TAM variables and
However, there is potential bias in TAM. One of the incorporates selected variables such as social factors,
major biases is that TAM assumes that when and organization factors. The theoretical foundation
someone forms an intention to act, that the person and research model have explained the role of AIS
will be free to act without limitation (Bagozzi 1992). and behaviour towards the adoption AIS.
However, in the real world, there will be many
constraints such as limited ability, time limit and 6. Research model and Hypothesis
individual freedom to act (Bagozzi, et al 1992). TAM
with its original emphasis on the system design The technology acceptance model (TAM) was used
characteristic does not account for social norms, in this study, for it does predict ability in the role of
subconscious habits and facilitating condition of the accounting information systems usage. The
organisational environment in the adoption and relationship between Social factors, Organizational
utilisation of new IS including AIS (Venkatesh, factors, perceived usefulness, (PU), perceived ease of
2003). use (PEOU), attitudes towards usage (ATU),
behavioral intention (BI) and accounting information
Further, most of the existing studies on TAM were systems (AIS). Technology is specified in the TAM
conducted in North American countries (Davis et al adoption and it reflects in the organization structures.
1989). When TAM is tested in the other countries Informed by the empirical evidence shown below, is
such as Switzerland and Japan, the results vary on the modified model showing the Social factors, has
TAM’s predictive power, culture, social norms, habit direct influence in organizational factors. Together
and facilitation in individual IS, including AIS with perceived usefulness has direct influence on
adoption. attitudes towards use, similarly perceived ease of use
has direct influence attitude towards use, while
Davis et al (1989) had observed that the omission of behavioral intention is posited to affect (AIS).
a subjective norm from TAM represented an Empirically evidence was conducted in justifying
important area that needed further research. They had TAM variables and other factors, the below was
noted that the theoretical basis of TRA makes it conceptualize model that was tested with the prove of
difficult to distinguish whether usage behaviour is hypotheses.
caused by the influence of the referent on one’s intent
or by one’s own attitude (Davis 1989). For instance,
Davis (1986) observed that the subject may want to
do what referent: X thinks he or she should do, not
because of X’s influence, but because the act is
consistent with the subject’s own [attitude]. Davis
(1989) not only underscores the importance of social
norms that can explain behaviour in the adoption and
use of IS in the real world application of TAM, but
states that they failed to recognise the importance of
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Volume-3 Number-3 Issue-12 September-2013
Perceived
Social factors usefulness
Accounting
Attitude Behavioral
Information
towards use Intention
Systems
Data have been analyzed by using Statistical Package The descriptive statistics of the Social factors,
for the Social Science (SPSS) was used to perform organizational factors, and TAM variables are shown
correlation on the result from the questionnaire. The in the table.
correlation analyses were tailored towards achieving
the set objectives.
Experimental and Result
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International Journal of Advanced Computer Research (ISSN (print): 2249-7277 ISSN (online): 2277-7970)
Volume-3 Number-3 Issue-12 September-2013
As shown in table 2; the result of the correlation indicating a positive relationship between
analysis indicate that there is a positive relationship organizational factors and general consideration of
between organizational factors and social factors with the use of AIS in the organization. This is significant
a correlation coefficient of 0.589 and 0.464, at 0.01level of 2 tailed analyses.
104
104 104
***
Correlation is significant at 0.01 level (2- tailed)
As shown in table 3, the figure consistent with them to process accounting work quickly, improve
factors, showing Social factors demonstrated a the process of publishing work and that overall AIS
significant influence on Intention of use with (.381) was very useful. The respondents also strongly
similarly; Intention of use demonstrated a significant agreed that AIS was easy to use, as it was easy to
influence on Social influence with (.382). A learn to operate the system. It was equally easy to
correlation of the two factors shows significant at operate AIS within the work schedule, it made work
the.000 level and while the coefficient support the easy and it was also capable of making the
level of 104. publication of accounting work easy. Teaming the
different aspects of AIS together was equally strongly
In summary, the respondents were mostly female agreed to be easy and, finally, their interaction with
between the ages of 18 to 25 years, their highest AIS was clear and understandable.
educational level was a diploma and their current
position in the organization they work for is account Considering the facilitating condition of the
manager. The quantitative analysis conducted respondents, the entire group of respondents had
revealed that the majority of the respondent have undergone a training section at some point in time
been privileged to personally use the computer for concerning the usage of AIS. They were trained
about 1 to 4 years, during which their use of AIS was within five or more days and the majority of them
considered to be equivalent to their use of computers agreed that the AIS training they received was
and they have been aware of AIS ever since. They satisfactory in terms of its quality. A larger
make use of AIS more than four times a month on percentage of the respondents agreed that they were
average. The respondents have used two different satisfied with the duration of their training on AIS.
types of AIS packages/ Software. Most of the respondents agreed they were also
satisfied with the pace of the training and the
According to the perceived usefulness of AIS, the competence of their trainers. A little above average of
majority of the respondents strongly agreed that their the respondents can operate AIS with confidence.
use of AIS would improve how their data is kept, According to the majority of the respondents it could
facilitate the growth of their organization, enable be concluded that AIS is always available, reliable
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International Journal of Advanced Computer Research (ISSN (print): 2249-7277 ISSN (online): 2277-7970)
Volume-3 Number-3 Issue-12 September-2013
and effective, thus there was a strong agreement to application. The use of AIS which is a computer-
this effect. AIS was agreed upon to be flexible and based application brings a new trend of change from
also easy to use, but on the overall satisfaction rate, the conventional way of accounting to a
50% agreed to this. computerized way which most people are not
prepared for or find very difficult to adapt to. It is
There is a strong agreement that information required seen that its usage is majorly influenced by the
from AIS is always reliable. It was also agreed that institution. It was also found out that the majorities of
the information required from AIS has been found to recent users are within the diploma level of education
be accurate, timely, precise, adequate and and have minimal experience with the use of
meaningful. computers. This therefore creates a level of difficulty
for effective usage of the applications available. The
From the information extracted from the 104 use of AIS is seen to have improved the productivity
respondents, they strongly agreed that they usually and delivery of the users’ work, although this was not
get help from IT support personnel in the quantified in this study. In addition, this study found
organization when difficulties are encountered during out that all three factors influencing the AIS process
the usage of AIS. Aside from this, help can also be were found to have a direct effect on attitude,
assessed easily from the Institute of Chartered although no direct effect of this process on behavioral
Accountants, the AIS manual and from colleagues. intentions were observed. Hence, this emphasis on
The support services provided by AIS head office innovation adoption and diffusion initiatives should
staff were agreed to be always adequate, relevant, be focused on developing user attitudes that are
provided within an acceptable time frame, provided conducive to effective utilization and acceptance
with a positive attitude and overall was regarded as behavior.
satisfactory.
9. Recommendation
Considering the organizational factors, it was agreed
that the encouragement of AIS usage comes from the For proper and effective usage of AIS, there must be
support from circuit office, availability of computers an increased awareness of the usage and of AIS to
in the organization, follow-ups made after the facilitate its wide adoption. Therefore, higher levels
implementation of the system, encouragement from of formal education should be encouraged, alongside
the head office and finally commitment from the workshops, training and re-training of users for
Institute of Chartered Accountants supporting AIS. adequate improvement. In addition, further studies
Socially, respondents agreed that their use of AIS had should be conducted to quantify the impact of AIS on
been influenced by their colleagues, circuit office accounting firms, in order to be able to establish its
officials, head of department, accountant, head office full potential.
management, head office AIS staff and subordinates.
The use of AIS was generally agreed upon by the Reference
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& & WARSHAW, P. R. 1993. User acceptance graduate student of Business
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theoretical models, Management Science, University of Technology and also a
35,982-1003 member of Southern Africa and
business Account. His research focuses
[8] DITSA, G. 2004. A research Design and a on acceptance of accounting
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